Mechanical toy



sept. 4, 1928. 1,683,232

J. J. BECKER MECHANICAL TOY Filed June l, 1926 /NvE/vof? JOHN J. BECKER A TTRNEY ffl Y tion of the rotor.

Patented Sept. 4, 1928.

UNiTED STATES JOHN JACOB BECKER, OF NEW YORK, N, Y.

MEoHANioAL TOY.

Application led .Tune 1,

lviy invention relates tomechanical toys, and more particularly to that class of toys in which a travelling carriage member, in itsI movement, carries and actuates a rotor or rotatable member comprising a series of radial arms carrying substantially flat-sided block-like elements, adapted when rotated to diffuse a variety of colors and be a source of amusement and. when at rest to be a source of education and instruction for chil'- dren and others.

Some of the objects of my invention are, tc produce a toy of this type which is of simple and durable construction, of coin,- paratively few parts, of pleasing and artistic appearance.

Another object is, to provide a toy of this type which when actuated, will produce an optical effect resembling a blended ring or rings of color or colors, or other desired color formations. Y f 1 Another object is,` to produce a toy of this character of such construct-ion that it may conveniently be assembled for use, disasn senibled for repair or transportation in containers, and effectively supported for travelling movement.

Another objecty is, to produce a toy in which, when the rotor or rotatable member is actuated, it shall simulate or suggest the appearance of a so-called Ferris wheel, when the rotor rotates. y

Another object is, to produce ay toyin which. a travelling carriage is provided with rotatable wheels or rollers, which are in turn provided with spools or pulley devices that are adapted to be connected by a beltV or belts to spools or pulley devices, carried by a rotor or rotatable member, mounted on said carriage, and thereby actuate and rotate the latter in correspondence with the movement of thetrave'lling carriage and the rotation of its supporting wheels.

Another object is, to providea device of this type which shall be of such weight and construction that when the travelling carriage is moved along a suitable surface, the wheels of said carriage will be rot-ated by friction with said surface and will, by connecting means, cause a simultaneous rota- Another object is, to provide a device of this type, in which the travelling carriage may be in the form of a four Wheel arriage, or may be of the two wheel cart type. l y

1926. serial 110.112.925.

My invention consists in the particular construction, combination, organization and arrangement of parts, shown in the accompanying drawings, described in the specilication, and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings: l

Fig. 1, is a side elevation of one form of embodiment of my invention, showing the rotor or rotatable element arranged to move in a vertical plane.

Y Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the invention shown in Fig. 1, illustrating more clearly the means for` transmitting rotary movement from the carriage wheels to the rotor. n Y

Fig. 3 is a modification of the type of device shown in Figs. 1 and 2, illustrating the base supporting the rotor as carried by a pair of wheels substantially as a cart` and having` an extending rod or guide piece to direct the carriage and cause it to travel.

Fig. 4l is a perspective view of a one piece type of metal base, for the travelling carriage, designed to support the rotor in a vertical plane,vthe axles and movable parts of the apparatus being removed therefrom.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, in which like numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts, myr device comprises a base 10,'provided near each end with axles 11 and 12, which extend through the base 10, from side to side. Wheels 13` and 14 are rotatably mounted on the aXles 11 and 12and are held from displacement therefrom by nuts, Cotter-pins or other suit able fastening means. The wheels ,13 and 14 serve as supports upon which the base may travel over any suitable surface, when it is pulled, pushed 'or otherwise propelled. Each of the opposite wheels, at either end kof thebase 10, are provided with a grooved pulley or spool 15 and 16.l These ,pulleys 15 and 16 are attached to their respectively adjacent wheels, or are formed as a part thereof, and are -arrangedto rotate by and with the rotation of the wheels, and with the travelling movement of the carriage.

Supports or standards 17 and 18 are de tachably mounted .opposite each other upon the carriage base, near the opposite longitudinal edges thereof, and are held in proper position by means of screws, bolts'or other fastening means 19 and 20. These standards 17 and 18 are preferably of metal, so that l they may be readily given the desired formation, and may arranged to operablyfsupportV therebetween,l a` rotatable member. These standards 17 and 18'may each be formed in a single piece and each comprises and 22.

aV pair of legs spreading apart from their upper extremities where they terminate )in substantially cylindrical enlarged portions. 21

These portions 21 andV 22 are arranged opposite, and in alincment with each other, and provide means by, and in which y a supporting shaft or axle 23, for carrying arotor is adapted to be rotatably held.

,The shaft 23 extends transversely, vabove and across the base iof 'the carriage, is seated Y in the enlargements 21 and 22, extends therethrough and is provided with threaded portions at `its/opposite ends. `Nuts, or other 'A suitablefasteningmeans 24 and 25, are carried on the threaded end portions ofthe shaft 23 so disposed thatgrooved pulleys or spools 26 and 27 may be mounted on the ards 21 and 22 by the loosening or tightening shaft 23, in non-rotatable relation therewith, between each standard 21 and 22, and the fastening meansf24' and 25. Y

The spools or pulleys 26 and 27 .may be readily adjusted with respect to the stand 'i of the nuts or fasteningfmeans `24and 25 on the shaft 23,so that said shaft may beV held'inthe desired yoperative relation to the,V

standards 21 and 22, and may at the same time be easily rotated. f l

Mountedrbetween the standards 21and 22, in fixed relation to the shaftw23`, rotating therewith and being rotated thereby isa hub-member 28 of a rotor or retable element. This member 28 is disposed so as to rotate.

j in a substantiallyvertical plane when the shaft 23 is actuated ,and caused to rotate. The hub-member 28 is provided with a series of outwardly extending, radially disposed,

arms or spokes 29, which are fixed to the hubmember.

At or nearvthe outer end ofl each of saidspokes 29 there isfixed an enlarged substantially flat-si ded block-like member 30.V The spolsor pulleys 15 and 16 are;l connected 'with'thespools or pulleys '126 and 27 respectively, 'byfmeans `of endlessfbelts or( straps 33 and34 in such a'manner that the rotation `ofthe wheels 13 and"14, and the consequent rotation ofjthepulleys 15 'and `produced: by the travel ofthe 'carriage on -a rsuitable surface, will beW transmitted toand" actuate the pulleys 26,' and 27 and thereby effectue rotation' of the shaft 23,111@ (forresponding rotation of'the'hub 28, of the rotatable member, andthe movementof the.

- radial arms-29-andthe block-like members 30.

It will be obvious, that anysubstantial y forward or backward or continued traveling movement of the carriage will result in a rotatiorrofthejvheels 13 and 14, the rotation of the driving pulleys 15 andlfi, and

that this rotation, by means o f the belts. 33 and 34, will "be transmitted. to the. driven `pulleys26 and 27, and'that the shaft23 and the rotor will likewise and correspondingly rotate.

" It will be seen thatthe rotor is caused to rotate synchronously, with,- and incorrelspondence to the forward or backward travelf lingr movement of the carriage. When the carriage is movedforwardly, as indicated by the arrow in Fig. 1, the rotor will rotate in the direction' indicated bythe arrow in that vfigure; When the carriageis moved backwardly, orin a direction reverse to that in` dicated' by the' arrow in Fig. 1, the rotor will rotatein adirection the reverse of that\in Y' dicated by the arrow in Figl.' -This rotation is directly caused by the travelling movement of the fcarriage,"producing thereby theY i rotation of the carriage,supporting wheel l3'and 14, the consequent rotation of the pulleys 15 and 16, and the transmission offV that rotation through and byr the `belts 33` and 34 tothe driven pulleys 26 and 27.

- Forfellicieutoperation ofmy device, to

produce the desired rotation'` `ofthe rotor and other parts of the apparatus above referred to,4 it is desirableto construct the device with a base andparts 'assembled.thereon of such weight that aproper frietional contact of the carriage wheelsl will be'v made with the surface upon which theyA travel; it being understoodtliat thel operation of my apparatus is due primarily toffriction, produced by`and during the travelling movement. Y

In Fig. 3, shown a modified form of Vmy invention, which differs from that shown in Fig. 1 and 2, in ther arrangement of the means `for supporting the base of the carriage and for causing-itto travel. In the modification in Fig.' 3, the base 35 `is sup-A rotateV whenjthe base .and members Vcarried thereonf are 'caused to travel. j Between each'` of the wheels 36, fixed thereto, adapted to rotate' therewith, and. adj acent the longipulleys 39, substantially identical with 'the 2. These pulleys 39 carry belts40, whichv operate similarlyV to 'the belts and fr34 in Figs. `1 and2 and transmit the -rotarymotion of thefpulleys '39 to pulleys 41, non-rotatably mounted on a transverse shaft-42, mounted tudinal vsides ofthe baseVV 35, Iprovide `pulleys 15 andlG, illustrated in Figs. land Y on supporting standards 43,A lsubstantially similar to corresponding parts shownkin Figs. 1 and 2, and described in connection therewith. Nuts 44, or other suitable' fastening means, are carried on the opposite ends of the transverse shaft 42, to holdk the shaft and pulleys thereon in operative, adjusted position in relation to the supporting,` frame 43. The supporting frame 43 is substantially identical to the supporting frame, composed of the members 17 and 18, shownand described in Figs. 1 and'2, and is detachably mounted upon the base 35, by screws 45 or other suitable fastening means. As in the embodiment shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the transverse shaft 42 is supported by bearings 46, that are substantially oppositely disposed enlargements of the standards 43, at the upper extremities of said standards. These bearings receive the shaft 42, and carry it in rotatable operative relation thereto, substantially as, and in the manner illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2. i

Midway between the standards 43, the hub 47 of the rotor is mounted in fixed relation to, and on the shaft 42 and is adapted to rotate therewith in all respects substantially similarly to the rotor and arrangement illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2. This hub 47 is likewise provided with a series of radially disposed arms or spokes 48, which move iny a substantially vertical plane with the ro` tation of the shaft and hub ofthe rotor.

At the outer end of each said arms or spokes 43, there is provided an enlarged substantially flat-sided block-like member or weightl 49, in all respects substantially similar to the corresponding elements illustrated in Figs. -1 and 2. The base 35 of the travelling carriage is, at or near one end, provided with a guiding arm or handle 52, which may be attached to the base, by screws, pins or other suitable fastening means, or may be inserted into a suitable opening or socket in the base, or at the side thereof, so that said rod Vor handle may be in fixed relation to the base, and may serve as a means by which the carrying` member or cart-like element ma be propelled and guided.

It will be obvious that the modification shown in Fig. 3 is substantially similar in all respects to the embodiment shown in Figs. 1 and 2, except that the carriage or carrying member is in the nature of a two wheel cart, guided and propelled by means of a handle or rod, projecting from the base. In the embodiment illustrated inrFig. 3, the rotor element rotates in correspondence with, and in consequence of and in correspondence with the traveling movement of the cart or carriage.

ln the preceding,` described figures of my drawings, I have indicated that the base portion of my invention may be constructed terials for that purpose or for the construction of any part of my invention.

- In order that a desirable manner of forming this base member of other materials than wood may be illustrated, I have shown in Fig. 4fone form of metal'base, adaptable for use witlrthe type of invention'illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2.

Referring to Fig. 4, the base member coinprises a top portion orv plate of suitable shape, provided with perforations 61 and 62 suitably arranged to receive means to hold the upright supporting' standards 17 and 18 in fixed, operative relation thereon. Near the opposite ends of the plate 60 are provided downwardly eitending lugs (i3 and 64, which are similarly place in alinement with each other on the opposite lateral sides of the plate or base member, in such a manner that Vaxles upon which the base member carried,

would register through openings 65 and 66 arranged in said lugs,'m such a manner as to serve as a means tooperably carry wheels upon which the base may travel.

Itwill be understood that my rotor may be formed in a single piece of wood, metal or other suitable material, or may be made up of elements, assembled in the desired oper-v ative relation. It will be understood that the block-like members 30, 49, upon the outer v ends of the spokes'of the rotor may be of the speed of movement of the carriage and by the relative sizes of the driving and driven pulleys. Y f

It* is contemplated that the block-like members may be colored of a uniform color or 'that each may be given a different color or shade. Likewise, the color of the spokes maybevaried or combined, as desired, and it is also obvious that the hub of the rotor,

as well as the driving wheels, and even the .i

bodyof the carriage may be colored to suit the taste, or to effect the desired optical impression.

It will be seen therefore that if a certain well-known combination and proportion of colors is arranged and distributed upon the rotor the rotation of the rotor at the required speed will blend the colors, so that the optical illusion of the vision of white would be created. It isalso apparent that at different speeds different optical impressions would be brought about. t is also apparent that almost any desired impression of various combinations of substantially concentric shapes wouldbe created by the proper arrangement of. colors upon the rotor element andicausing` that element to rotate.

' otherwisev suitably arranged upon one'or tively few parts, and of simple construc-` I have illustrated my block-like members Y as being of solid formation,`but it is to be understood that they `may be hollovs7 if desired, and may if desired be Vmade of celluloid, glass or any other material that ywill produce the effect of transparency, trans` lucency or opaqueness. i a

I may, if desired, cover these blockswith material having a high `refiective power, disposed VAeither evenly or irregularly and thereby produce a unique, flashing, flckerff ing orwavering light effect when light is thrown upon the rotor in the course of its rotation.' 'It is understood thatthis may be artificial or natural light, and that such an effect may be produced Vindoors or other- Wise. i

Letters, figures, pictures,arbitrary or cone- Veventional designs or other suitable decorations may be embossed, printed, painted or more of' the `faces of the block-like members of the rotor to lgive these Vportions of the `rotor the characteristic appearance desired when the rotor is rotated and to have educational value to children or others when the rotor is at rest.` i i A It will be seen from the above, that have produced a device "With many desirable advantages and results, that is of'comparation, 'is of cheap manufacturing cost, may

Vbe so dissembled that it ymay `be `readily packed Vfor shipment or transportation, and so that repairs thereto may be readily and conveniently made. which operates as the result of the travelling movement of the carrying member in combination with friction produced bythe Weight ofthe carrying and carried parts,that is useful and of value as an educational device and as an instrument of amusement, and which has other advantages and results'that may be apparent.

Although I have thus described my inven` this24th day ofvMay 1926. Y

tion in detail and specifically illustrated itin .the accompanying drawings, I do not wish to be limited to the particular form :of embodiment'shown, nor by the terms-of description defining it, exceptv as thefstate of the art and appended claims may'. require, Vfor Vit is obvious,- that various modifications may be made in the combination, organization,and arrangement of parts of`my inven-` tion Without departing from the spirit and enlargements being cubical in shape presenting iiat facesnhaving educational characters thereon, such `as letters and numerals-1 and means whereby to rotate the rotorwhen the. carriage is rolled over a surface:V

2. In a mechanical toy, a Wheeledcarriage,

sha-ft supporting means on thecarriage, a

shaftjournalled on the shaft-supporting means, a rotor fixed to the shaft to rotate withthe 'latter and including a hub and .a

series of radially `disposed arms provided Witlrcubic al enlargementsr at their outer ends presenting flatl faces having VeducationalY characters thereomand mea-ns to rotatethe v shaft and rotor, the A.rotorfhub and arms and the` cubi-oal enlargements `being differently colored so that as the rotor is rotated there is presented a peculiar color scheme resemblingl concentric designs of different color.

Signed attheboroughof Brooklynin the county of Kings andState` of New` Yori JoiiN .moon Brenna 

